Welcome back!

Welcome back to the language blog! Today I’ll be going over how you can send/receive Japanese using Willamette webmail, and also the basics on Skype and Mixxer.

When using webmail, it seems that most Japanese you send or receive will be changed into squares and symbols. This is really easy to fix, but can be dangerous if you’re just starting out, because it will change all the text into Japanese (eg. The inbox link is turned into 受信箱). Just make sure to memorize where the links you need are… The process is pretty straightforward, just
1. log into your webmail
2. go to options
3. go to display preferences
4. change the language to Japanese
To change it back, just go back and change the language to English
Some fonts still look a bit funky, but you should be able to read most Japanese with this method.
Next, Skype is an online calling program, think instant messenger but with voice communication rather than text. It’s easy to get started, and is free to use as long as you call other people with Skype.
You might be wondering why I’m introducing this program on a language blog, but Skype can become a great language tool. The easiest way to do so is through a program called Mixxer. Mixxer is created by Dickinson College, and is a wonderful tool for finding someone to help you learn Japanese(or any other language)
By registering and searching for language partners, you can find someone who speaks Japanese, and wishes to learn English or help someone in learning Japanese. Not everyone you meet through Mixxer might be helpful, but this can be a very useful tool in practicing your language with a native speaker.
That’s all for this week, Drop in again next week for more!
-Andy